Roller device



ROLLER DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1941 2 SheetsSheet l Jan. 26, 1943. c, REY2,309,214

' ROLLER DEVICE Filed Oct. 51, 1941 N 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26,1943 -UNITED STATES PATENT orslcs ROLLER. DEVICE Charles J. Roy,Wellston, Mo.

Application October 31, 1941, Serial No. 417,393

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a roller device particularly adapted for usein connection with any article for which a firm support is requiredduring use of the article or machine but which must be moved todifferent positions or locations from time to time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a roller device havingcastors and an easily operated mechanism for moving the castors into andout of service position so that the article or machine may be handled bya single operator regardless of size or weight.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may beinstalled on articles or machines now in use, such as table power saws,washing machines, sheet metal shears, long tables and many otherarticles and machines, or may be readily built into such articles ormachines during course of construction.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will beformed of a few simple strong and durable parts, which will beinexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a side elevation of a roller device constructed inaccordance with the invention, shown in released position on a worktable.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the work table and roller device,showing the roller device in operative or service position to permit thetable to be rolled to a different location.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, i6 designates a table topand i designates the supporting legs of a table, used as an example ofan article to which the roller device may be applied.

The roller device, in accordance with the invention, comprises levers I2secured to the inner sides of the legs H by leaf hinges Hi, the ends oithe levers to which the hinges are secured being sloped as shown at M topermit the levers being swung upwardly toinclined released position, orto permit the levers being swung to the horizontal or operativeposition. Each lever is equipped on the bottom, near the hinged end,with a castor l5 which is adapted to engage the floor when the lever isin horizontal position and elevate the respective leg I i above thefloor and thereafter support the weight of the table while the table isbeing rolled on the castors to a new location. In operative or serviceposition the levers on the same end of the table are aligned and abuteach other at the free ends, see Figure 2.

As best shown in Figure 4, a pair of guide bars It are secured to thelegs I at the same end of the table and engage the sides of the leversl2 to prevent the lateral displacement of the levers and to guide thelevers during rocking movement I thereof from the released positionshown in Figure 1 to the operative position shown in Figure 2. Helicalsprings I! are secured at the upper ends to the legs I l and are securedat the lower ends to the levers l2 and normally support the levers inraised position.

A reinforcing frame and mechanism carrying member is secured to the legsI l and comprises longitudinally disposed braces l8 and transverselydisposed braces l9, secured to the inner faces of the legs above thelevers I2.

The two levers IE on the same end of the table are bridged by, andcontact with, the head 20 of a plunger 2| when the levers are in raisedposition, see Figure 1. The plunger is substantially rectangular incross section as shown at 22, see Figure 3, and is slidably fitted tomove vertically in an opening of similar shape formed in a guide 23which is secured to the outer face of the respective transverselydisposed brace Hi. The springs I! normally held the plungers 2| inraised position to project above the guides 23 due to contact of thelevers I2 with the heads 20 of the plungers, see Figure l.

A shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in openings 25 formed in thetransversely disposed braces IS. The ends of the shaft project beyondthe braces and are equipped with cam disks 2% which are securedeccentrically thereto. The cam disks are superposed above the plungers2| and are spaced from the transversely disposed braces l9 by spacingwashers 21, see Figure 4. A lever 28 is fixed to the shaft for rotatingthe shaft.

The lever 28 normally abuts the top ed e of one of the longitudinallydisposed braces l8 and in this position of the lever the low side ofeach cam disk 26 is presented to the respective plunger. When the lever28 is rotated through an arc of about 180 degrees from the positionshown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 the high side ofeach cam disk will be presented to therespective plunger to move theplunger downwardly so that the plunger head rocks both respective leversl2 to service position for elevating the table above the floor on thecastors I5.

A stop 29; see Figurel is secured to:the.inner face of one. of. thetransversely disposed braces I9 and limits rocking movement of the leverto operative position.

Since the operation of these parts has been described as the descriptionof the parts progress it is thought the invention will be fullyunderstood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A roller device comprising a pair of castorcarrying levers disposedbetween and hinged toth'elegs'of a table or other machine; springs.

connected" to the legs normally supporting the leversin raised positionto dispose. the casters out'of'contact' With a floor, aframe on the legsabove the levers, guides onv the frame, plungers mount'ed t'o-slidevertically in the guides having.

h'eads contacting-th'efreeends' of the: levers, a

shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, cams fixed to the shaft contactingwith the upper ends of the plungers, a lever for turning the shaft tocause the cams to lower the plungers against the pull of the springs toswing the levers downward and dispose the castors below the legs, andguides fixed to the legs and engaging the levers to hold the leversagainst accidental lateral movement.

2-. A- structure as of claim 1 andiin-which the head of each plungerbridgesthefree ends'of the respective pair of castor carrying leversdisposed on.-the legs of the same end of the table or machine as theplunger, and in which said springs constantly hold the levers in contactwith the lower side of said head.

3. The structure as of claim 1 and in which the hinge of each lever is aleaf hinge having one leaf thereof secured to a sloped outer end of thecorresponding lever to permit the lever to swing upward until the leavesof the hinge engageeach other.

4*..The structure as of claim 1 and in which.

said springs are: helical. springs. connected; to the legs and to thefree endsof thelevers.

CHARLES J REY;

